Police, community and calendar briefs for Jan. 19, 2013

The robber entered the Citgo gas station at 1517 SW 10th St. around 8 p.m., according to Ocala Police Department officials. He demanded money from the cashier while pointing a large kitchen knife at the employee.

After receiving some money, the robber left on foot.

The suspect was described as a black man dressed in a black hoodie and sweatshirt, white pants, black shoes and skeleton gloves. He stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 190 pounds.

Anyone with information can call OPD at 369-7000 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com or text “ocalapd” and a tip to TIP411.

Man accused of stealing tackled

A man accused of pointing a BB handgun at a loss prevention officer Thursday evening was tackled by the store employee and later taken into custody by Ocala police.

Kevin Elijah Madison, 50, was charged with armed robbery and was taken to the Marion County Jail.

Madison was carrying a Walther CP99 Compact BB Gun, according to the arrest report. He told Officer Mike Phillips his intention was to go to Bealls and steal jewelry for his wife’s birthday, according to the report. He said he had the BB gun in his left pants pocket when he walked into the store.

Madison admitted removing several packages of jewelry and leaving the building without paying for them, according to the report. He said he ran when the loss prevention employee identified himself. He said he reached into his pants pocket and removed the BB gun, but denied pointing it at anyone, according to the report.

The employee told the officer it appeared Madison had the handgun up and was about to point it at him. He said he was scared and tackled him to the ground.

The jewelry was valued at $210.

Court records show Madison has numerous convictions dating back to 1990 for offenses such as possession of a firearm or a concealed weapon by a convicted felon, domestic battery and failure to appear for a jury trial.

Officials seek owner of jewelry

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office hopes to return two jewelry items to their rightful owner. The items are a St. Kitts charm and a 1981 North Marion High School ring, believed to be a woman’s size 7. Anyone with information can call Detective Barney Gaskin at 402-6014.

Woman, 53, charged with DUI

SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — A woman whose blood-alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit was hospitalized for several hours Thursday before she was arrested and charged with DUI.

Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Jones went to Juniper Way and Juniper Loop Circle to investigate a report about a suspicious vehicle in the area for a few hours. He found Brenda Lujan Price, 53, of Ocala, sitting in a Saturn sport utility vehicle drinking out of a Gatorade bottle, which contained beer. The vehicle was partially sitting in the roadway and was running, noted the report.

Deputy Nicholas Austin also responded to the call. Both deputies said they detected a strong odor of alcohol in the SUV. Inside the vehicle were numerous open containers of several brands of beer, including Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite.

Price declined to perform a field sobriety exercise and was arrested at 12:06 p.m. At the Marion County Jail, her blood-alcohol readings were .337 and .335. The state’s legal limit is .08.

When detainees have a blood-alcohol content reading of .3 and higher they are taken to a hospital for observation and/or treatment. Price was taken to TimberRidge Medical Center. After being cleared, she was booked back into the jail at 8:17 p.m.

Woman accused of firing shots at neighbors

DUNNELLON — A woman was charged with aggravated assault and carrying a concealed firearm Thursday after being accused of firing two shots at a neighboring family and their animals.

A man told Deputy Zackary Hughes that his dogs and those of his neighbor, Jodie L. Sweeney, were running back and forth and barking along a fence that separates their two yards.

Sweeney came out of her barn and began yelling and screaming about the dogs and fired two shots from a handgun in the direction of the witness, his wife and their animals, according to the arrest report.

The man said he and his family went inside their home and called the Sheriff’s Office after Sweeney threatened to kill them and their animals, the report noted.

The deputy talked with Sweeney, who admitted firing the weapon and said she did so to stop the dogs from fighting, according to the report. A .380 semi-automatic pistol and two loaded magazines were taken from Sweeney, 41, by the deputy before she was taken to the Marion County Jail.

3-year-old hurt in ATV accident

BELLEVIEW — A 3-year-old boy was injured in an ATV accident Thursday when the vehicle crashed into a tree, according to sheriff’s deputies and Florida Highway Patrol troopers.

Officials said the boy’s 9-year-old brother, who was not injured, was driving the 2001 Suzuki four-wheeler behind their residence in the 13400 block of Southeast 34th Terrace when a tree branch struck him in the face. He lost control of the ATV and it crashed into a tree. The younger boy was sitting behind the handle bars.

The boy was flown by helicopter to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville in serious condition. A hospital spokesperson said Friday that the boy was in good condition.

Report: Man sent sexual photo

A 19-year-old man was arrested Thursday and charged with sending material harmful to a minor by electronic device.

Detectives Mike Dodd and Ollue Myers interviewed a 13-year-old girl who told them she met Denis Francis McAuliffe through a friend and he sent her a picture of his genitals via cellphone and they had conversations of a sexual nature through Facebook.

McAuliffe at first denied the accusations, but later told the detectives his actions were “stupid” and apologized for his behavior, according to a report. McAuliffe was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail.

Blood drives planned Saturday, Sunday and Monday

LifeSouth Community Blood Centers has issued an alert that all blood types are needed, but types AB-positive, AB-negative and O-negative are in shortest supply.

According to the organization, a cold front moving through the Southeast is predicted to bring snow to major portions of Alabama and Georgia and further impact a blood shortage across the region because of reduced donations during the winter holidays and increased usage at many hospitals.

Donors must be 17 or older, or 16 with parental permission, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. A photo ID is required.

For more information, call toll-free at 888-795-2707 or visit www.lifesouth.org.

Event planned Saturday will assist homeless veterans

Workforce Connection of Citrus, Levy and Marion counties will hold a stand down Saturday to provide services and resources to homeless military veterans and their families.

The event, in collaboration with area veterans groups and community organizations, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Florida Army National Guard Armory, 900 SW 20th St., Ocala. It is free to attend.

Stand down events provide health screenings, Veterans Administration and Social Security benefits counseling, and referrals services such as employment, housing and substance abuse treatment. Nonperishable foods, blankets and clothing will be distributed.

For more information, call 732-1700, Ext. 2225, or 800-434-5627.

Local inauguration events include lunch and dance

A presidential inauguration celebration begins at 11 a.m. Monday at the Hacienda Hills Country Club, 2100 Morse Blvd., The Villages. The event includes a buffet lunch and live coverage of the inauguration beginning at noon. The cost is $20 and prepayment is required. For more information, call 259-1426 or 750-2311.

Also, the Marion County Inaugural Ball, a semi-formal dinner and dance, will begin at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Ocala Hilton, 3600 SW 36th Ave., Ocala. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, call 402-9494 or visit www.MarionDems.org.

Community Hug Celebration scheduled on Thursday

HUGS Charities Inc. of Ocala will honor Albert Peek and the Bunco Babes of Ocala with its annual Community Hug Celebration and Fundraiser at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Gateway Bank of Central Florida, 1632 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala.

The event will include hors d’oeuvres, wine and beer, and entertainment. Tickets are $50 per person.

For more information, call 622-3241.

Books-A-Million to stay open until Feb. 16; sale planned

Books-A-Million in Ocala won’t close Saturday, after all. According to the company’s communications office, a going-out-of-business sale will begin next week with the closing date pushed back to Feb. 16.

Children ages 5-17 invited to join flag football league

Children ages 5 to 17 are invited to participate in a city of Ocala flag football league sponsored by NFL Flag, where they will learn about sportsmanship, teamwork and football fundamentals. The cost is $55 and includes an official NFL reversible jersey and flags for each participant.

The season will run from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays, Feb. 16 through March 23, at the Ocala Regional Sportsplex, 3500 SW 67th Ave., Ocala.

The league kicks off with a free NFL skills clinic from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 9.

For more information, call Carla Chindamo at 401-3918 or Kelvin Richardson at 629-8389.

$500 music scholarship open to area students

The Marion Civic Chorale’s Grat L. Rosazza Scholarship of $500 is open to high school and community college students who are continuing their education in vocal music, music education or musical theater.

The winner will perform with the chorale during a spring concert and will be awarded the scholarship at that time.

The application deadline is April 2. .

For more information, call Judy Crooks at 812-0666, email Jillvw50@gmail.com or visit www.marioncivicchorale@tripod.com.

Volunteers needed to raise puppies for foundation

The Guide Dog Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides guide dogs at no cost to blind and disabled veterans, is seeking volunteers to raise a puppy from seven weeks to a year of age.

The dog is then returned to the Guide Dog Foundation for formal training as a guide dog.

No previous dog training experience is needed.

All veterinarian expenses as well as other expenses are covered.

For more information, call Lillian Pollice at 687-4335 or The Guide Dog Foundation at 1-800-548-4337 or visit www.guidedog.org.